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2 Gatton Academy seniors recognized as National Achievement finalists

Charvinia Neblett

Henry Uradu

Charvinia Neblett of Russellville and Henry Uradu of Russell, both seniors at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, have been recognized as finalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, an honor which potentially opens the door to college scholarship opportunities.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 specifically to honor scholastically talented black American high school students and provide college scholarships for a substantial number of the most outstanding participants in each annual competition. More than 1.5 million students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test each year and approximately 160,000 students request consideration for the National Achievement Program. About 1,600 of the highest scoring applicants for the National Achievement Program are honored as semifinalists. Of the 1,600 semifinalists, about 80 percent attain finalist status.

For these two Gatton seniors, it’s a great way to begin their final semester of high school even as they focus on the college admissions process ahead. According to Gatton Academy Director Dr. Tim Gott, this honor underscores the work of both these incredible students.

“They are tremendous representatives of the Gatton Academy, the state of Kentucky, and students across the nation,” Gott said. “We look forward to seeing what these students will accomplish in the years ahead.”

To be considered in the rigorous competition for National Achievement scholarships, finalists had to meet additional standards and fulfilling several requirements. These include having a record of very high academic performance of college preparatory course work, leadership and school involvement, submitting SAT scores that confirm PSAT performance, and being fully endorsed and recommended by a high school official.

Since students take the qualifying PSAT exam in October of their junior year of high school, much of the preparation stems from learning opportunities during their freshman and sophomore years of high school. The Gatton Academy builds on those experiences to provide students with a robust application and preparation for the SAT, a critical component in becoming a finalist.

“It is an honor to be named a National Achievement finalist,” Gott said. “These students have demonstrated a level of excellence that very few can claim. All of us, the Gatton staff and the schools they represent back home, value the opportunity to work with such outstanding young people.”